We're engaged!

Hi everyone, Anthony and I have been together for close to 5 years now. On the morning of New Year's Eve 2009, as the 8am sun shone majestically on the intricate marble carvings of the Taj Mahal, Anthony asked for my hand in marriage. 

PS: Photo taken before the proposal. Hence our semi-awake faces and slight bed head.

Both families were happy for us and whole-heartedly gave their blessing for this marriage to happen. Dad invited Anthony to a family dinner, expecting Anthony to officially ask Dad for my hand (Poor Anth didn't know this)

Here's our very first family photo: 

PS, there were two other tables full of relatives behind the camera!

It was only the weekend after that Anth came over to my house to officially ask my parents for my hand in marriage. No papparazi allowed in this one!

After that came the process of getting Anth's parents to Singapore to do the same thing.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE METHOD:

According to ancient traditions, once a groom identifies his bride-to-be, a middleman is sent to sound out the bride's family with a gift. Once the bride's family is acceptable of the groom, the bride's birth date and hour is recorded on an official document. This document is placed on an ancestral alter for 3 days, by the groom's family.

If there are no quarrels or loss of property between the parents, the same process is repeated for the groom, by the bride's family.

"The matchmaker] must carry the proposal to the girl's family and ask for the young lady's 'eight characters' (the year, month, day of the month and hour of the boy's birth and of the girl's birth) and later conduct the negotiations concerning the gifts. If the girl's family hands out the 'eight chraracters', this is a sign of preliminary consent."

Hsu 1971, 84 

Finally, once both date/ hour of birth are "approved", will both families finally meet.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:

Anth invited his family to fly into Singapore to officially meet my family and ask for my hand in marriage. I was thrilled to learn that his sisters (Tina & Anne) AND his grandmother (who lives in LA) were all coming along too.

Both families officially met on March 13 for lunch at

Wah Lok Restaurant, Carlton Hotel:

On the morning of March 14, Dad, Mum & Sis officially accepted Anth's family proposals.

Both families exchanged an abundance of gifts!

(L to R): Anth's Maternal Grandmother, Anth's Mum, Anth's Dad, My Mum, me, My Dad.

(L to R): What appears to be two happy Mums!

Other photos from their visit: